Culture and outdoor life bring in the tourists

In general, the respondents agree that a fixed link across the Fehmarnbelt will bring Scandinavia and the European continent closer together and that the new link will offer the Øresund Region and Northern Germany better regional growth opportunities. As for tourism, the Germans (79 per cent) and the Danes (78 per cent) agree that the fixed link will boost tourism.

The TNS analysis shows that the two populations are positively disposed to their neighbouring country as a travel destination. 55 per cent of Danes associate Germany with culture, city experiences (Berlin, Hamburg, Lübeck), good food, etc. 21 per cent of Danes also single out nature and the scenery (forests and mountains) and 7 per cent stress Germany’s recreational and sporting facilities.

For German respondents, the picture is somewhat different. 55 per cent highlight nature and the scenery (lakes and beaches). A significant group (25 per cent) associate Denmark with holiday homes and recreational pursuits, while 20 per cent regard Denmark as "interesting" in terms of culture, history and Copenhagen, the capital.

In terms of Danish and German general travel habits over the past two years, even if some of the respondents have not visited Denmark or Germany over the period, it is clear that the prospect of visiting Germany or Denmark is attractive or even very attractive. Danes are apparently very interested in cultural events. Of the 80% of Danes who have assigned German cities and tourist destinations high marks, only 20% have actually been there. 60% of Danes are, therefore, already positively disposed to Germany, but have yet to make a short or an extended trip to Northern Germany.

In particular, it should be noted that 22 per cent of the Danes find it "fairly attractive" or "very attractive" to shop in Germany. This should be seen within the context of the attractiveness of German cities and the fact that German price levels are regarded as reasonable by the Danes. At the same time, however, a large group (47 per cent of those polled), who find shopping opportunities fairly or very attractive, have not yet visited German shopping centres, Christmas markets etc.

By and large, Germans travel less to Denmark than the Danes travel to Germany. One reason can, of course, be that other destinations may be more attractive. The Germans, however, believe that there are "fairly attractive" or "very attractive" experiences to be had in Denmark.

Although many Germans visit the West Coast of Jutland, some Germans (11 per cent) have visited Eastern Denmark to see the scenery and enjoy the outdoors. This type of trip is particularly attractive for German city dwellers who have made the journey within the past two years in that virtually all visitors have had their expectations fulfilled. At the same time, there is a particularly large group of Germans (80 per cent) who regard the nature and landscape of Eastern Denmark attractive although they haven’t visited Eastern Denmark yet. Some German respondents also value cultural experiences and visits to the Danish capital. In this case, the pattern is the same: only a few have actually visited the area within the past two years, but a large percentage is fairly attracted, or very attracted, by the prospect of a long or short trip to Denmark.

As in the previous two years, the market research firm TNS Infratest was commissioned by Femern A/S to conduct a representative survey, which it carried out in March, interviewing 1,005 citizens aged 18 and over in Denmark and 2,000 in Northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Hamburg).